Best Lawn Mower Reviews of 2018

If you know already which lawn mower you should buy hop on directly to the lists below where I listed lawn mower reviews of the top performers separated by the type of mower.

If you are a first-time buyer you probably need a piece of advice on which mower you actually need. No worries, I covered all that in this beginner’s guide to lawn mowers article. I also wrote plenty of articles about things you should know about mowers and mowing in general – about proper use, mowing tips & tricks that will help you mow with confidence.

Anxious to check which are the best lawn mowers of 2018? Ok, here they are:

Best Corded - Electric

All in all, I think it's a great electric mower that is capable of doing a great job, as long as you use it for average sized yards or smaller, and don't expect it to do your heavy cutting, then this unit should be a fine choice.

Best Reel

All things considered, I think that it is a great reel mower. One thing that I will give this mower some extra credit for, is the fact that it did a pretty good job handling the hills in my yard, as well as some of the uneven terrain.

Best Lawn Tractor

Overall, I think it's a great mower. While it isn't the cheapest one, it is priced nicely for the amount of power it had and its size. It's a great mower for those large mowing jobs and is a machine that is built to last.

This machine is not intended to be worked really hard or used on large stretches of land. I think that it's durable enough for day-to-day use but I really wouldn't push it too hard. It still feels like a cross between a toy and a mower to me.

Almost 6 million gas-powered push mowers are sold in the United States each and every year. Which makes it one of the most popular types of mower on the market today. However, despite its popularity, not many people know what features they should look for in these type of mowers when they are deciding on one to buy. I am going to fix that problem today.

Before you buy one of these mowers, you should definitely check out lawn mower reviews to see what each model offers. That will give you a good idea of which features these models have. The guide that you are reading right now is going to tell you which of those features are important for your needs and which are not. Let’s start things off with the engine. The most important part on any mower.

The Engine

Lawn mower engines come in a variety of different sizes. These range from the small 140 cc engines to the big powerful 200 cc engines. Which engine size you should choose really depends on your mowing needs. If you have a relatively easy plot of yard to mow, then you can get away with choosing a mower with a smaller engine. On the other hand, if you have a lot of tough terrain to mow, then you are probably going to want to go with a mower with a bigger engine.

The Drive System

Some people think that the only things they need to consider about a mower’s drive system is whether it is self-propelled or not. Which isn’t entirely true. Sure, if you want to have to put in less work while you are mowing or have a large yard, then choose a self-propelled machine. If you don’t mind pushing the mower or have a smaller yard, then choose one that isn’t self-propelled. However, method of propulsion isn’t the only thing you need to consider about the drive system.

You also have to figure out if you need a front drive system or a rear drive system. Fortunately, that is something that is pretty easy to figure out. If you have to maneuver around a lot of obstacles, then choose a front-drive system because these offer more control. However, if you have to contend with a lot of slopes, then a rear-drive system is probably your best bet.

Wheels

Another feature often overlooked by people are the wheels on the mower. They are however, an important thing to consider when purchasing a lawn mower. Let’s go over two of the most basic wheel features.

Front Caster Wheels-These wheels give a great deal of maneuverability to the lawn mower, allowing them to cut corners and go around trees. However, they can often make raising the cut length of the mower a lot more inconvenient. That’s because each wheel has to be set independently before the blade height can be adjusted.

Rear Wheel Size-The larger the rear wheels the more easily you can push the mower over rough terrain. However, they may present some problems when you are adjusting the rear wheel height because large wheels often make the the rear wheel height adjustment lever hard to reach.

And that covers the basics of gas-powered push mowers. If you consider these features when you are looking for a mower to buy, then you will increase your chances of buying the best lawn mower possible.

If you’ve been sniffing around lawn mower reviews trying to find a mower that will make your yard work easier, then don’t worry because you aren’t alone. All of us are looking for that one machine that will do everything but cut the grass by itself. Let’s face facts. No one likes mowing their lawn and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

However, whether you find that perfect machine that will enable you to spend more time away from your yard work doesn’t really matter. That’s because there are some things you can do right now to ensure that your mowing goes a lot quicker and is a lot easier to do. Here are some tips I use to get my yard work done in half the time. With or without a brand new mower.

Overlap Your Lines

The first thing you can do is to slightly overlap your lines as you mow. Place a mark on the side of your mower and use that as your “overlap position marker.” This will allow you to do it quickly and easily.

Don’t Cut Too Much

Another thing you can do to cut your mower time is to raise the height on your mower so that you are never cutting more than a third of the height of your grass. This is not only better for your grass, but it will also make it easier. Sure, you might cut more frequently but your mowing sessions will be a lot shorter, so you’ll actually save time in the long run.

Make Easy “Stripes”

Do you want your lawn to have that striped look but the edges of your lawn doesn’t have a straight edge? Well, all you have to do is cut straight down the middle of the grass and then cut lines on either side of it. Problem solved.

Don’t Get Caught Up On The Edges

It might be your first instinct to spend a lot of time cleaning up the edges of your lawn as you go. Well, that can be time consuming so you should really stop doing that. Instead, you should cut your grass as usual and then cut around the perimeter of the lawn when you are finished. This is not only quicker but will result in a more professional looking cut.

Cutting Damp Grass

You really shouldn’t cut damp grass, but sometimes there is no alternative. So if you have to do it, then make sure that you slow down. This will result in less clogging of the blades and will result in a faster mow.

Turn Up Your Height On Shady Areas

If there are some areas of your lawn that get less sun – and therefore don’t grow as fast – then raise the height of your mower one setting before you mow them. This is not only faster but will result in a more even looking lawn.

Inspect The Grass After Mowing

You should take a good look at your lawn after each mowing session. If the blades look frayed or broken or the grass has a silver sheen to it, then your mower blades are probably dull. Go ahead and sharpen them to make mowing faster and easier. Most experts recommend that mower blades get sharpened at least twice a season.

Change Directions

If your mower has a roller, then be sure to change the direction of your cut each time you mow your grass. This will not only keep the grass blades from being tamped down, but it will also make mower a whole lot faster.

Don’t Scalp Your Lawn

If you notice that there are some parts of your lawn that are getting “scalped” by the blades, then you should raise your mowing height for these areas. This will prevent you from having to start and stop, and it will also prevent damage to your blades.

Cut To The Proper Grass Height

You need to take into consideration which type of grass you have in order to cut it efficiently. If you have a warm season grass like Bermuda Grass, then you should cut it down to about an inch. On the other hand, if you have a cool season grass such as Rye or Bluegrass, then you should only cut it down to about 2-3 inches. Cutting the grass according to grass type will result in a more efficient cut and will make your lawn look a whole lot better.

Skip The Sharp Corners

Much like you did with the perimeter, you should avoid cutting the sharp corners of your grass on your first go-round. Instead, round off the corners and do them all at once, after you have finished mowing. That allows you to deal with them all at the same time and not at ever turn.

Avoid Rows

Some people won’t like this tip but I will list it anyway. It involves cutting your grass in a series of spiral patterns instead of in rows. In a recent Popular Mechanics article, it was show that the quadruple spiral was the most efficient lawn cutting pattern. You divide your lawn into four quadrants and then cut in a spiral patter for each corner. This reduces sharp turns and reduces the amount of steps you need to take drastically.

Get A New Mower

Sometimes your old mower simple doesn’t cut your grass effectively. That is when you need to check lawn mower reviews and buy yourself a better lawn mower. In fact, this may be the best tip I can give you.

If there is one thing that most people don’t think about when they are using their mower, it has to be the blades. Even though the blades are one of the most important parts of any mower, it is often the one part that is the most neglected. That’s probably because most people don’t know that not only do blades need to be sharpened on a regular basis, but they often need to be sharpened before the lawn mower is used for the first time. That’s right. Most lawn mowers come with blades that are dull, and this is done merely for safety reasons.

Another thing that keeps people from sharpening their blades is not wanting to spend the money to take it to a sharpening service. That’s okay, because today I am going to give you one of the best lawn mower sharpening guides you will ever receive. This guide will show you just how easy it is to sharpen your blades.

Step One

The first thing that you will need to do is remove the blade. You can do that by locating the nut that holds the blade to the underside of the deck and loosening it with a wrench. However, before you start to remove this nut you’ll need to use a little caution. You will want o remove the spark first so the mower doesn’t accidentally start while you are removing the blade. You can do this by disconnecting the spark plug from the mower. You might also want to consider wearing heavy leather gloves to prevent the blade from cutting you while you are handling it.

There is one final thing you might want to do before you remove the blade, but this part really depends on whether you think you need to do it or not. Some people mark the blade with a bit of spray paint so they know which way to re-install it. If you don’t feel like you need to do this, then you can skip it but it does make it easier to re-install the blade.

Step Two

Wearing your gloves, insert the blade into a vise and grab your file. Start by sharpening the top side of the cutting edge. Use even strokes and push down and to the side. Make sure that you use the same amount of strokes on each side of the blade to keep the blade balanced. It usually takes less than 40 strokes on each side of the blade to sharpen it. During this step, don’t try to put a razor-sharp edge on the blade. That will only result in the blade dulling faster. Instead, just sharpen it to about the sharpness of a butter knife.

Step Three

Now that you have sharpened your mower blade, it is time to make sure it is still well balanced. You can do this by hanging it from the center hole on a nail. If one side tilts, then file a little bit more metal off that side until the blade balances. This is a trick that I learned by reading some comments by professional blade sharpeners posted in the comment sections of various lawn mower reviews.

Step Four

The last step is putting the blade back on the mower. Make sure that you re-install the same way it came installed (this is where the spray paint comes in handy) and be sure to securely tighten the bolt holding the blade to the mower. You are now ready to mow your lawn with a newly sharpened blade.

Some of the best lawn mower tips I have ever received were from lawn experts who taught me not only how to properly use my lawn mower, but also how to work it into an integrated strategy to keep my lawn looking healthy all year round. What they taught me was that my mower was only one tool in my arsenal and that I needed to do more than just mow properly to take proper care of my grass.

The tips that I received from these lawn experts literally changed my life. Once I started implementing their suggestions into my lawn care regimen, I realized that not only did my lawn look better but that my mowing was a whole lot easier to accomplish. Today, I am going to be sharing with you these same tips that were shared with me. In this first part, I am going to be sharing with you my tips for spring and summer lawn care. I hope these tips will make your yard work all that much simpler to do and results in your grass looking the best it can look.

Spring

Spring is the time of the year when you start getting your lawn ready for the growing season. Following these steps will result in a more resilient and better looking lawn.

Fertilize: You should purchase a good fertilizer with plenty of nitrogen in it to encourage a strong grass growth. There are many packages out there that work great, as long as you follow the directions on the package.

Water: If the last few months of spring was dry, then you might need to help your lawn out by watering it. On the other hand, if you have had an extremely wet spring, then don’t give your grass any extra water to prevent drowning it.

Mowing: Check lawn mower reviews and purchase the best mower possible. After you’ve done that, then cut the grass on a regular basis. Make sure that when you mow the lawn the first couple of times that you have your mower on the highest setting possible. After these first few cuts, then you can cut according to your recommended grass height.

Remove Thatch: Remove any dead grass (called thatch) from your lawn. You can use either a rake or a device called a scarifier. The choice is up to you.

Aerate: Make sure that you aerate your lawn. This can be done with a lawn fork or a lawn spike. Aerating your lawn will allow air to get to the grass roots and will result in a healthier grow.

Summer

Summer is the time of the year when your lawn is usually the most stressed due to lack of water and heat. You can help your grass endure this tough time of the year by following these steps:

Fertilizer: If necessary, you can give your lawn one more dose of fertilizer during the summer. But only if rainfall is predicted. Fertilizer during dry or hot weather can scorch the lawn so be careful.

Water – Water as necessary

Mowing: Cut the grass 1-2 times a week max. If the weather is extremely dry or hot, then try to cut the grass as little as possible to prevent stressing it even more.

Weeding: Make sure that you weed the lawn on a regular basis. Do this by removing the entire weed, roots and all, from the ground. If the weeds are small or widespread, then you might have to use an herbicide to get rid of them.

This concludes my guide on lawn care for the spring and summer months. You can continue on to my guide on the fall and winter months for tips on maintaining your lawn for these seasons.

Reading lawn mower reviews can tell you a lot about the mower you are about to purchase. They can tell you how energy efficient the mower is, how big of a job it can handle and how it will handle said job. However, one thing that they won’t tell you is how to run your mower in a safe manner. Fortunately, that isn’t something that is too hard to figure out, if you follow some of the common sense rules that I am going to lay out for you today.

For the most part, lawn mowers are fairly safe to operate. Every day, people all over the world fire up their lawn mowers and do it without incident. But don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. Operating a mower requires preparation and serious consideration of all safety rules. Here are some of the things that you need to consider in order to operate your mower in a safe and efficient manner.

Familiarize Yourself With The Manual

One of the most important things you can do to minimize the risk of serious injury with your mower is to read the mower’s manual. The manual not only tells you how to properly maintain your mower but will also tell you what you can and can’t do with your machine. Therefore it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the manual before you start it for the first time.

Proper Maintenance Makes For A Safer Machine

Some lawn mower accidents are easily prevented with a little bit of maintenance. Making sure that the undercarriage and the muffler is free of debris can prevent your mower from overheating. As with any machine, proper maintenance will not only help it run better but make it a lot safer to use.

Wear The Proper Attire

Not many people give what their mowing attire much thought but they really should. Wearing the proper outfit can ensure that you remain safe while you are mowing. When ever you are operating the mower you should wear eye protection, long pants and close-toed shoes. You should also ensure that your clothing isn’t loose.

Survey The Terrain

You should also take the time to do a proper survey of your yard. You should walk through the yard, without your mower, and take a good look around. Get a good idea where all of the possibly dangerous obstructions are. You should also take the time to remove any stones or rocks that might be picked up by the mower and thrown.

Keep Track Of Kids And Pets

Make sure that all kids and pets are at a safe distance from the mower. Not only from the blades but from objects that might be thrown by the blades.

These are the best lawnmower safety tips that you can follow. If you pay attention to these five areas, then your mower experience will be a whole lot safer for you and your family.

Lawn mower reviews can tell you a lot about your mower, but they don’t tell you how to properly use it. That is why I am writing this article on summer lawn care today. This guide is intended to tell you how to keep your lawn looking good throughout the hot and dry summer months. A time of the year that is the hardest on your grass than any other time of the year.

Below are some tips that will not only keep your grass alive and healthy but will make your lawn a field of dreams. Follow these tips and your neighbors are sure to be green with envy at your beautiful and well groomed yard.

Plan Your Mowing

You should always make sure that you plan out your mowing before hand so that you don’t have to constantly switch from your mower to your other yard tools. For example, you might want to do all of the mowing first and then switch to your trimmer to finish up the border of the yard.

Make A Wide Border

Start with mowing a collar around your yard. The first thing you should do is cut the outside edges of your yard so that you can keep things all nice and neat.

Don’t Cut The Grass Too Short

Cutting the grass too short can strain the root system of your grass and result in ugly brown patches and ruts. Cutting the grass too short can also help weed seeds get more sunlight and sprout. Therefore, you should always cut the grass to the recommended height as determined by your grass type.

Take Your Time

You should never rush mowing your yard. This is true whether the grass is wet or dry. Trying to hurry up and cut the grass can result in an uneven cut and can also result in clumps of poorly mulched trimmings.

Keep Focused

Most people look down at their mower as they are mowing, which is a mistake. To keep an even cut, you should look about 10 feet in front of your mower instead of staring straight down. It will help you keep your mowing lines straight.

Try Mulching

I know a lot of people bag their trimmings, but I think a better solution is to mulch the trimmings. Mulching feeds nutrients back into the grass and results in a much better looking lawn.

Alternate Your Mowing

Changing your mowing pattern each week will help your grass grow stronger and straighter. One week, mow horizontally across your yard and the next week, mow vertically across your yard,.

These are the best lawn mower tips I can give you for maintaining a beautiful lawn all summer long. Follow these seven steps and your lawn will be lush, green and strong, even through the hottest summer months.

One of the biggest complaints that people have about their lawn mowers is the complaint that they don’t feel their mowers last as long as they should. That may be due to the fact that many people don’t properly read lawn mower reviews before they run out and purchase one, but it may also be due to the fact that many people don’t practice proper mower maintenance. A little bit of maintenance really goes a long way to keep a mower running to the best of its efficiency.

In order to help my readers keep their mowers running their best, I have decided to write this article on proper mower maintenance. If you follow this guide, you will not only get more out of your mower but it will come a whole lot closer to its maximum life expectancy.

Read The Manual

I know that I have mentioned this in several articles I have written, but that’s because it is one of the most important steps in keeping your mower running its best. Your manual not only gives you proper operating procedures for your brand of mower, but most importantly tells you what you need to do to keep it in good working order.

Change Your Air Filter

Your air filter is one of the most important things on your mower to change regularly. A clean air filter keeps debris from entering your carburetor and damaging your engine. Your air filter needs to be changed after every 24 hours of operation or at least once every mowing season.

Check Oil

Most people know that they need to change the oil in their car every 3 months, but they don’t realize that the oil in their lawn mower also needs to be changed on a regular basis. After every 50 hours of use, be sure to check your oil and replace it if necessary.

Check Spark Plug

The spark plugs need to be checked and replaced on a regular basis. Usually this depends on the model of mower that you own (so you should check your manual), but many experts agree that it should be changed at least once per season.

Check The Blade

It is vital that you check the blades on your mower on a regular basis. The blade should be checked at the beginning of each mowing season. If after inspection you notice that the blade is broken or dented, then you should replace it immediately. You should also make sure that the blade is well balanced and sharp.

Follow these tips and you will be amazed at not only how well your mower runs but also how long it lasts.

I have written a few advanced articles for those of you who consider yourselves mowing enthusiasts, but today I am going to switch things up a bit and write an article for those of you who are new to mowing. Today, I am going to give you the best lawn mower tips I have for beginners, so if you already have experience with mowing, then this guide may seem a little basic to you. It is only for those who are truly uninitiated in the art of lawn mowing. With that being said, let’s get right down to business and get this guide started.

Difficulty Level: Very easy

Time Required: Depends on the size of the lawn but generally requires only about 2-4 hours of time. This includes the amount of time required to get everything together and set up.

Step One

The first thing you are going to want to do is to find yourself a mower. If you are just cutting your grass one time (which probably isn’t the case), then you can probably burrow a mower from a friend or a family member. However, if you plan to mow your grass on a regular basis, then you are probably going to want to buy the best equipment possible. The first place to start are lawn mower reviews. These will give you all of the specs you need to know about a particular mower before you buy it.

Since there are so many reviews it is probably best to narrow down what kind of mower you need before you start. If you have under 500 square feet of lawn, then the best mower to buy is most likely a reel mower. While it requires more physical work, it is simple to use and doesn’t make as much noise as a gas mower. If you have over 500 square feet but under an acre, then you will want to get either a gasoline or an electric mower. Those of you with an acre or more will most likely want to get a riding mower.

Step Two

The next thing you want to do is to make sure your mower is in good condition. You want to make sure that it is assembled correctly and all the parts are in good working condition. If it’s gas powered, then make sure it has gasoline and oil in it.

Also check the blades. For safety reasons, most mowers don’t come with sharp blades, so make sure that you either sharpen them yourself or take them to someone who can do it for you. On average, a lawn mower will have to have its blades sharpened at least 2-3 times a season.

Step Three

Make sure that your yard is clear of all obstacles. Use a rack to pick up loose rocks, branches or other things that might harm the mower blades or get flung by the mower. It’s not always possible to get everything picked up, but you should try to get as much as possible.

Now that you have selected your mower, made sure it works correctly and have cleared the yard of all obstacles, it is now time to begin mowing. Please consult part two of this guide for guidelines on yard mowing.

Step Four

Before we actually start mowing however, there is one more thing that needs to be done to the mower. The wheel height needs to be adjusted properly. This can be usually be done with a lever on the side of the back and/or front wheels. Put the lever down to lower it and pull it up to raise it. The exact mechanics of it depends on the type of mower you have, but that is usually how it works.

At this point, you are probably going to ask me “what’s the best mowing height for my mower?” Well, that depends on your grass. Different types of grass needs to be cut at different heights. Check the following table for some of the more common grasses and their recommended cutting height:

Now we can start mowing. To begin with, you should start with a simple back-and-forth pattern. You completely one row of grass, turn around and then do the next row. And you continue to do this until the entire lawn is completed. Once you have gained experience, you can move on to more advanced lawn cutting patterns.

While you are cutting your rows, make sure that you overlap them slightly. This may seem like it requires more work, but in actuality it is quite the opposite. Overlapping your rows will result in less resistance and will prevent you from having to go back and mow over areas you might have missed.

Another thing you need to do is cut your grass early in the morning, after the morning dew has dried off of the grass. Also be sure now to cut your grass too law. This is called “scalping” and is really bad for the health of your grass.

Step Six

After you have finished mowing, you can now tidy up. Use a rake to clean up lawn clippings or empty your mower bag. Remove all of the debris that has accumulated under your mower (be sure to disconnect the spark plug first for safety) and perform any daily maintenance that the lawn mower manual or the lawn mower reviews have prescribed for your particular machine. Now you can pat yourself on the bag for completing your first mowing job. Congratulations!

One thing that I have really learned from reading people’s comments in the comment sections of many lawn mower reviews is that there continues to be some people who don’t practice proper winter storage for their mowers. They don’t seem to realize that properly storing a mower for the winter season can mean the difference between a running mower in the spring and a mower that is heading to the repair shop. Proper winter maintenance is one of the most important things you can do to keep your mower running properly. So without further ado, let’s take a few moments to learn what “proper winter maintenance really means.

Remove the battery

One of the first things you’ll want to do before your store your mower for the winter is to remove the battery if your mower has one. That’s not only because a connected battery loses its charge faster than an unconnected one, but also so that it doesn’t corrode the battery cables.

After you remove the battery make sure you store it in a cool dry place that is away from gasoline, your water heater or your furnace. Remove the negative cable from the battery first and then remove the positive cable. After you’ve done that you should then wipe the battery off with a clean cloth. Also be sure that you clean the battery terminals off with a wire brush and apply a good coating of petroleum jelly to the terminals to keep them from corroding. Now the battery can be safely put away.

Use A Fuel Stabilizer

You don’t want to leave untreated fuel in your lawn mower. If you do, it can create a varnish like substance that can clog your carburetor. That is why it is important to either use a fuel stabilizer or completely remove old fuel from your mower before you put it away for winter.

If you opt to use a fuel stabilizer, then be sure that you use it correctly. You should follow all directions on the label and all of your mower manufacturer’s guidelines.

Clean Debris Off Of Mower

Make sure you remove all mud, grass and leaves from your mower’s undercarriage. Before removing all of this debris, then be sure to disconnect your spark plug to avoid any potential accidents.

Find A Home For Your Mower

Now you can find a place to store your lawn mower. Be sure to place it in a location that is dry and will protect it from the weather. Someplace like your basement, shed or garage.

And that concludes the best lawn mower practices for proper winter maintenance. Follow these simple steps and you can count on your mower working for you for many seasons to come. Proper winter maintenance will go a long way in keeping your mower running properly.

Top dressing your grass in the fall is one of the most important things you can do for your lawn. Yet it is the one piece of advice that is often left out of most lawn care guides. You can have the best mower in the world, but it isn’t going to do you any good if you don’t properly prepare your lawn. That is why I am writing this guide today. To show you not only the importance of top dressing but also to show you how to do it properly.

Why Top Dress?

Your soil is full of millions of microorganisms that contribute to the health of your lawn. These organisms not only break nutrients down for your grass so it can easily consume it, but it also fends off harmful fungi that can attack the roots of your grass. Adding a good top dressing to your lawn promotes a healthy colony of these organisms and in turn, helps promote a healthier lawn. The other benefits of top dressing includes improving soil structure, reducing traffic stress, adding nutrients to the soil, improving water retention, reducing thatch and the reducing soil compaction. As you can see, these benefits make it an important part of any lawn care regimen.

Making A Top Dressing

Here are a few things you’ll need to make your own top dressing:Coarse Sand (Don’t use sea sand because it contains a high lime content)Loam Or A Good Commercial Top SoilPeat Or Compost

Mix these ingredients together. If you have an average loamy soil, then mix these three ingredients in equal parts. If your soil is sandy, then leave out the sand and only mix the other two ingredients in equal parts. If your soil has a lot of clay or loam in it, then just mix together the sand and the peat or compost in equal parts.

Applying The Top Dressing

Start off by working only a couple of square feet at a time. Over this area, shovel about 3 shovel fulls of top dressing over the lawn. Use a rack to work it down into the grass until the grass blades peek through. Also, make sure that it is evenly spread out. You never want more than an inch of top dressing around your grass. Continue until you have applied the top dressing to the entire lawn.

Now all that is required is to get the top dressing to settle. You can do that by watering your lawn and then leaving it alone for a day or two. After this waiting period, you can then use your rake to smooth everything out.

That is all there is to it. Properly top dressing your soil and using a high quality lawn mower (one that you have carefully selected from looking at lawn mower reviews) will ensure that your lawn is the best it can be. A little hard work goes a long way, as you will quickly see once you start investing a little bit of your time into your lawn.

I consider myself somewhat of a lawn mower expert. After all, I have spent over 20 years looking over lawn mower reviews and acquainting myself with the inner working of this type of machine. I have also spent a considerable amount of time using the machines on my own lawn. That is why I think that I am uniquely qualified to give you some advice on how to properly cut your lawn.

When you are cutting your lawn, you have to realize that what you are really doing is pruning it. Proper mower should increase the density of the lawn by decreasing the amount of weeds. Every time that you run your mower over your beautiful grass, you should not only be cutting the length of it but you should also be improving its texture and quality.

However, if you don’t properly cut your lawn, then you are going to end up doing more harm to it than good. That is why you should seriously consider the following tips. They will help you get the most out of your lawn and are the best lawnmower tips you’ll find anywhere.

Tip #1: Cut According to Grass Type

The first thing you need to do is figure out what type of grass you have and find out the recommended cutting height. Once you have determined the proper cutting height of your lawn, you can then move on to tip #2.

Tip #2: The One-Third Rule

No matter what type of lawn you have however, you should never cut more than 1/3 of it at one time. If you do, then you risk doing serious injury to it. You can cause injury to the crown, destroy the surface area of the blade leaves which can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis, make the grass more vulnerable to certain pests and diseases, and increase sunlight to weed seeds which in turn can cause more weeds to germinate.

Tip #3: Cut Grass While It’s Dry

Another thing to remember is to always cut the grass while it is dry. If you attempt to cut it while it’s wet, then you can cause damage to the grass blades.

Tip #4: Don’t Cut Grass While It’s Hot Outside

If the weather is extremely hot, then it’s probably not a good idea to cut it. If you do, then you risk not only overheating yourself but also overheating your grass as well. The ideal time to cut your grass is in the evening when the sun is beginning to set.

Tip #5: Keep Mower Blades Sharp

You should always keep your mower blades as sharp as possible. Sharp mower blades not only cut more efficiently, but they also are better for the health of your lawn. That’s because dull mower blades don’t really cut, they pinch off the tips of the grass. This can have disrupt photosynthesis in the grass and prevent the nutrients from being properly absorbed by the grass.

Tip #6: Taking Care Of Your Mower

I noticed that one thing that I failed to mention in part one, is how to set up for mowing in the first place. Proper setup will not only result in a better mowing experience for you and your lawn, but it will also prevent damage to your lawn mower.

Always be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions and thoroughly read the instruction manual.

Do not alter the mower in any way. This includes removing chutes or safety flaps.

Always practice pre-season and post-season mower maintenance.

Tip #7: Change Mowing Pattern

You should regularly change your mowing pattern. There are a couple of reasons for this. One, it will prevent the grass from adapting to your cut and growing in a slanted manner. Two, it will give your grass a more compact growth pattern and keep ruts from developing.

Tip #8: Learn to Adapt To Your Grass

If you want to avoid cutting your grass more than necessary, then adjust cutting height according to your grass’s growing cycle. When the weather is dry and hot your grass grows slower so raise the cutting height. On the other hand, when the weather is cool and wet your grass grows faster, so be sure to lower your cutting height to accommodate this increase in growth.

Tip #9: Instead of Bagging Consider Composting

If you are bagging your clippings, then you might want to either switch to a composting mower or composing your bagged clippings. This will allow you to feed your grass with your clippings. This will result in a nicer and healthier lawn.

These are the best lawn mower practices you can follow. If you follow these tips faithfully, you will not only have a healthier lawn, but you will also have a better looking lawn.

If you are planning to buy a new mower, then you need to make sure that you do your due-diligence. You not only want the best machine you can buy for the price, but you also want to make sure that you buy a machine that serves your needs. Buying the wrong mower can make your lawn chores a whole lot more difficult than they need to be.

Before you buy your next mower there are a few things you need to consider. That’s the whole point of this article today. I am going to show you some of the things that you need to think about when purchasing a new mower. Follow these tips and you can then pour through lawn mower reviews with confidence. You will know what you are looking for and what features are important.

Walking Or Riding Mower

The first decision you need to make is whether you need a walking lawn mower or a riding one. Usually, you can determine which of these you need by looking at your yard’s size. If you are cutting more than a ½ acre, then you definitely want a riding mower. Smaller than a half-acre (a half acre is approximate 200×100 feet) and you can usually make due with buying a walking mower. Of course, the decision is up to you, however. You might want a riding mower for a smaller lot or a walking one for a large lot. It all depends on what is comfortable for you.

Mulcher Or Bagger

Another thing to consider is how you want your mower to handle leaves. Do you want it to put it in a bag so you can dispose of it elsewhere, or do you want it to mulch your leaves? All important things to consider.

If you get a mulching lawn mower, you will also want to consider if you want one that discharges the debris from the back or from the side. There are mowers that shoot the mulch a considerable distance and those that kind of leave the debris where ever it is cut. What you need depends on your lawn care routine and on what is easier for you.

Consider Size

If you have a relatively flat yard to cut, then it might not really matter what size mower you have. However, if you have a lot of slopes, then you might want to consider getting a smaller, more maneuverable mower. After all, you don’t want to have to push a behemoth up a steep slope.

All of these things are things you need to consider to buy the best lawn mower possible. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. You also need to figure out what type of lawn mower you need.

Push Reel Mowers

To be honest, not many people buy push reel mowers nowadays, and there is a reason for that. This style of mower has quite a few disadvantages associated with it. Things that might make you think twice about this type of mower. I am going to detail some of the disadvantages. However, in the interest of fairness, I am also going to list some of the benefits of this device. And I think that is where I am going to start.

The Advantages: They are quiet, don’t pollute the environment, requires little maintenance, are inexpensive and using it provides good exercise.

The Disadvantages: Not suitable for large yards, take a long time to use, has problems cutting certain grasses, has traction problems on sandy or rocky soil, doesn’t edge well.

Corded Electric Mowers

There are quite a few advantages with corded electric mowers, but there are also some disadvantages to using them. Here are the pros and the cons:

The Advantages: Smooth and quiet operation, easy to start, easy to maintain, less environmental pollution and are usually less expensive than gas powered mowers.

The Disadvantages: Have to be careful not to cut the cord, usually not as powerful as gas mowers, doesn’t handle long grasses very well and usually cuts a smaller swath of grass (resulting in longer mowing times).

Battery Mowers

These type of mowers have been on the market for awhile now, but new models are much more improved than older models. Here are the pros and cons of this type of mower:

The Advantages: Easy to start and operate, easy to maintain, smooth quiet operation, less environmental pollution than gas models, no worry about mowing over electrical cords and are fairly inexpensive.

The Disadvantages: Because of the battery they are usually heavier to push, they often require long charge times and may not handle certain types of grasses as well as gasoline-powered models.

Gasoline Powered Mowers

Little introduction is needed for these models as they are the most common, so let’s get right to the advantages and disadvantages of this model.

The Advantages: Powerful, efficient, can handle a variety of different terrain types and can be fairly reliable if properly maintained.

The Disadvantages: Noisy, less environmentally friendly than electric models, usually the most expensive type of mower model and if it breaks down then repairs can be expensive.

This concludes this article on the most common lawn mower models. Before you go out to buy your next mower check the pros and cons of the various mower types and you can rest assured that you are buying the best lawn mower possible.

One of the first things you’ll notice if you read the comments on some lawn mower reviews, is the fact that some people seem to experience technical problems with their mower that they don’t know how to fix. This leads them to abandon their mower and buy a new one.

However, what is usually wrong with their machine is usually something minor and can be easily fixed. Check a few key components and make a few simple repairs and the mower will usually be as good as new.

Today, I am going to give you an overview of some of the most common problems with a lawnmower and how they can be quickly identified and fixed. This will not only keep you from having to buy a brand new machine every year but will also keep you from having to visit a repair man whenever you have the slightest problem with your machine. Here are the best lawn mower troubleshooting tips that will help you get your mower back out on the lawn.

The Mower Won’t Start

One of the biggest complaints that people have with their mower is that it won’t start. Very rarely is this a situation where the machine has completely died. Most of the time, it is something very simple that can be fixed rather easily.

Check Gasoline: Not only might the tank be empty, but you might also have bad gas. Check your tank and fill it, if necessary, or empty out last year’s gas and add new gas.

Check Spark Plug: Make sure it isn’t disconnected, dirty or loose. Check it, make sure it’s clean and reconnect. Also check the spark plug wire to make sure it isn’t damaged in some way.

Check Filter: Make sure that it isn’t clogged with debris.

Check Carburetor: Try tapping on the side of it with a wrench. Sometimes that is enough to get things moving. If that doesn’t work, then you might need to replace the fuel filter.

Power Loss During Mowing

If your mower suddenly cuts off while you are mowing then don’t worry. This is a common problem and happens to everybody eventually. All you need to do is check out the following components:

Check Cutting Height: If you are attempting to cut grass that is tall and you have your cutting height too low, then this can cause the mower to “choke.” Check the cutting height and raise if necessary.

Air Filter: If your mower isn’t getting enough air, then it won’t run very long at all. And usually the culprit is the air filter. Check it and make sure that it is not dirty or clogged.

Clean Out Clipping: Having a buildup of grass around the blades can result in them not being able to turn and the engine stalling out. This often happens when you are trying to cut wet grass. Simple remove the clippings and 9 times out of 10 the mower will stop stalling.

These are the most common problems with a lawn mower that won’t start or starts but stalls out. Most of the fixes will ensure that your machine is up and running in no time.

Starter Rope Won’t Pull Or Is Hard To Pull

Most of the time this is due to not holding down the safety bar on the mower. The safety bar stops the engine from running whenever the handle is let go. This is to keep the mower from running away and mowing down everything in its path. Make sure that the safety bar (called an engine brake) is held down while you are trying to start your mower.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, then check the underside of the mower’s carriage. If there is a bunch of grass collected around the blades, then the engine of the mower won’t turn. Disconnect your spark plug wire, push your mower to a hard surface and remove the excess clippings from around the blades. This usually solves the problem.

The Mower is Cutting In An Uneven Fashion

Usually this problem is accompanied by some sort of vibration coming from the mower as well. If that is the case, then check for these problems:

Clean Debris From Blades: Once again, it is most likely a problem with debris build-up. If so, then follow the steps from problem no. 1 and clean the debris out.

Check Blades: If you’ve cleaned out all of the debris from under you mower and that doesn’t solve the problem, then you might need to check the blades. They might be dull, broken or loose. Check and replace them as necessary.

Mower Is Smoking

If your mower starts smoking while you are using it, then your first response might be to panic. Before you worry and take the mower to a repair shop, check out these out first:

Check The Oil Chamber: If there is too much oil in the chamber, then it can cause the mower to smoke.

Make Sure Oil Hasn’t Spilled: Sometimes a smoking lawn mower is simple the result of oil spilling out on the exhaust. If this was done while the mower was being filled, then it will eventually burn off. Also check your oil cap and make sure that it is on firmly.

If neither of these items solve the problem or the machine has white smoke coming out of it, then you might need to have the machine checked by a professional.

And that concludes this article on the best lawnmower troubleshooting tips. Hopefully, it will keep you from having to take your mower to a repair shop on a regular basis and keeps your lawn mower running the way it should run.

One of the biggest questions asked by lawn mower owners – and one that isn’t answered by most lawn mower reviews – is how to get their mower ready for spring. It’s a simple question but a very important one to ask. If you don’t take the time to get your mower ready for the first spring mow, then you are likely to encounter problems early on. Problems that could have been solved by taking a few moments to go over the machine and making sure that it’s in tip-top shape.

Fortunately, this is the question I am going to answer today. I am going to give you the step-by-step procedure for getting your lawn mower up and running as soon as possible. The weather outside is beginning to warm up, so let’s get right down to it.

The Visual Inspection

The first thing that needs to be done is a visual inspection of the lawn mower. You need to check the tires, the belts, the blades and all of the bolts on the mower. If there is anything loose, tighten it. If there is anything that needs to be replaced, then replace it. Also make sure that there isn’t a ton of debris in the undercarriage of the mower. There shouldn’t be if you did proper winter maintenance, but if there is then make sure you remove it.

Check The Fuel

If you did proper winter maintenance on the mower before storing it for winter, then there shouldn’t be any fuel in the fuel tank to begin with. However, if there is fuel in the tank, then you need to discard it immediately. Fuel that is older than 30 days can gunk up your carburetor and will destroy your mower faster than just about anything else.

Check The Oil

Most people know that they need to keep the oil in their mowers up to their proper levels, but not many people know that the oil in the mower should be changed before the beginning of every season. If your oil needs to be changed, it is a pretty simple process. Simple locate the oil drain plug, remove it and drain your oil. After you’ve done that, then replace the drain plug and place the recommended oil into your mower.

Check And Replace The Air Filter

The air filter should be replaced at the start of each season. Whether it looks like it needs it or not. Not replacing it can result in damage to your mower, or at the very least, reduced fuel efficiency.

Sharpen Blades

There really is no consensus on how often the blades should be sharpened, but most people sharpen them at least twice a season. Doing so will ensure that your mower cuts the grass evenly.

Lubricate The Mower

All moving parts on your mower should be lubricated to ensure that they remain in good working condition. This includes the wheels and wheel bearings.

And that is all there is to getting your lawn mower ready for spring. If you follow these best lawn mower practices, then you can rest assured that you will have few problems with your mower during the mowing season.

Hello, and welcome to my lawn mower website! I'm glad you decided to drop by today. My name is David Reynolds. I've been working with lawn mowers for the better part of a decade now. I started this website because I wanted to teach people everything I know about lawn mowers and also teach them how to use them to get the most out of them.

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